The center, which opened in 2012, is the first of its kind in the United States to be dedicated exclusively to provide a new level of specialized surgical and pre- and postoperative care for elderly patients and to improve their treatment through research and education.

“Every day between eight to 10,000 baby boomers turn 65, and soon they will be the greatest force affecting health care in the United States. I am passionate about making sure that the quality and length of life for older patients are the best that they can be,” said Katlic. “I am also dedicated to educating other medical professionals about the unique challenges that geriatric surgery entails.”

Some of the challenges facing this group are inevitable because conditions that often require surgery – cancer, atherosclerosis, degenerative joint disease, cataracts, prostate disease and gallstones – increase in incidence as people get older. Because of Katlic’s initiatives, hospitals around the country are developing centers similar to the Sinai Center for Geriatric Surgery.

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is part of LifeBridge Health, one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in northwest Baltimore. LifeBridge Health also includes Northwest Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.

The Daily Record’s Innovator of the Year awards recognize Marylanders for creating new products, new programs, new services and new processes that have helped their companies, industries or communities.